Bruins Coach Gushes Over Decision To Draft James Hagens

The Boston Bruins walked away from the 2025 NHL Draft with seven new players on their team, with the highlight of their draft class being Boston College Eagles center James Hagens, who was selected with the No. 7 overall pick.

Hagens projects to be a future anchor in the middle of Boston’s first line for years to come, which is precisely what this team needs. That’s especially true for the center position, as the Bruins have struggled to find consistent production from this spot in the wake of Patrice Bergeron’s retirement.

If all goes according to plan, Hagens could become the team’s next great center. Many folks are high on Hagens’ potential, including Providence Bruins assistant coach Ryan Bourque, who worked with Boston’s new star prospect during his time with the US National Team Development Program.

“He’s a charming kid, he’s super popular in the room, he’s motivated,” Bourque said on “The Hockey Hub.” “He’s one of those kids that, he goes out there and it’s like he’s going on the pond every single day. It’s just a natural detail in his game through practice and in games as well.”

“The U-18 tournament in Finland, it was some of the best hockey that I’ve seen at that age level. He’s the type of player that he has the puck the entire game, but he’s not a selfish player.”

In his first season with Boston College, Hagens tallied 11 goals and 26 assists in 37 games, earning him a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie team. While he just got drafted by the Bruins, Hagens will likely spend at least one more season in college with the Eagles.

There’s a lot of excitement surrounding Hagens’ arrival in Boston, and that includes from Bourque. It may take him some time to develop, as he’s still only 18 years old, but if all goes according to plan, he will become a key piece in the Bruins’ long-term future.